Emsley Carr
Encyclopedia
Sir William Emsley Carr was a British
newspaper editor, who edited the News of the World
for more than fifty years.
Carr was born and raised in the Hunslet
district of Leeds
. His uncle, Lascelles Carr, was a founder and editor of the Western Mail, based in Cardiff
, and he saw promise in Emsley, and summoned him to work as a journalist
on the newspaper. In 1891, Lascelles was part of a syndicate which purchased the News of the World, a London-based Sunday newspaper with a small circulation, and he decided to appoint his nephew as its new editor.
Emsley married Lascelles' daughter, Jenny Lascelles Carr, in 1895, and worked closely with George Riddell
to build up sales of the News of the World. This was highly successful; by 1900, the paper was selling more than one million copies of each issue. Carr also continued to write for the Western Mail, acting as its chief political correspondent until the 1930s, using his membership of the Parliamentary lobby to obtain stories.
During World War I
, Carr undertook extensive charity work, in support of captured Welsh soldiers. He also undertook several trips to see the war for himself, visiting France and Scapa Flow
, and reporting on the Paris Peace Conference. In 1918, he was knighted for his wartime efforts.
After the war, the News of the World continued to gain sales, reaching more than four million by 1940. Carr served as High Sheriff of Glamorgan
in 1938, as Chairman of the Press Gallery at Parliament in 1930/1, and President of the Institute of Journalists in 1932/3. He also sponsored various sporting events, the Emsley Carr Mile
being named in his honour some years after his death. His son, Harry
, was a cricket
er who also worked alongside his father as a journalist at the News of the World.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
newspaper editor, who edited the News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
for more than fifty years.
Carr was born and raised in the Hunslet
Hunslet
Hunslet is an inner-city area in south Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is south east of the city centre and has an industrial past.Hunslet had many engineering companies based in the district, such as John Fowler & Co...
district of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. His uncle, Lascelles Carr, was a founder and editor of the Western Mail, based in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, and he saw promise in Emsley, and summoned him to work as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
on the newspaper. In 1891, Lascelles was part of a syndicate which purchased the News of the World, a London-based Sunday newspaper with a small circulation, and he decided to appoint his nephew as its new editor.
Emsley married Lascelles' daughter, Jenny Lascelles Carr, in 1895, and worked closely with George Riddell
George Riddell, 1st Baron Riddell
George Allardice Riddell, 1st Baron Riddell , known as Sir George Riddell, Bt, between 1918 and 1920, was a British solicitor, newspaper proprietor and public servant.-Background and education:...
to build up sales of the News of the World. This was highly successful; by 1900, the paper was selling more than one million copies of each issue. Carr also continued to write for the Western Mail, acting as its chief political correspondent until the 1930s, using his membership of the Parliamentary lobby to obtain stories.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Carr undertook extensive charity work, in support of captured Welsh soldiers. He also undertook several trips to see the war for himself, visiting France and Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
, and reporting on the Paris Peace Conference. In 1918, he was knighted for his wartime efforts.
After the war, the News of the World continued to gain sales, reaching more than four million by 1940. Carr served as High Sheriff of Glamorgan
High Sheriff of Glamorgan
This page is a list of High Sheriffs of Glamorgan. Sheriffs of Glamorgan served under and were answerable to the independent Lords of Glamorgan until that lordship was merged into the crown. This is in contrast to sheriffs of the English shires who were from the earliest times officers of the crown...
in 1938, as Chairman of the Press Gallery at Parliament in 1930/1, and President of the Institute of Journalists in 1932/3. He also sponsored various sporting events, the Emsley Carr Mile
Emsley Carr Mile
The Emsley Carr Mile is an annual invitational athletics running event held in the United Kingdom over one mile for men. The race is now part of the London Grand Prix, and was won in 2010 by the Kenyan athlete Augustine Kiprono Choge.-History:...
being named in his honour some years after his death. His son, Harry
Harry Carr (cricketer)
Harry Lascelles Carr was an English cricketer and journalist. He was born in Lambeth, London, the son of News of the World editor Sir Emsley Carr and Jenny Lascelles Carr...
, was a cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who also worked alongside his father as a journalist at the News of the World.